'Spooky' lyrics in Lennon's last songs

LONDON, England -- A newly released song completed by John Lennon shortly before his death disclosed a chilling pointer to his tragic fate.

In the lyrics to Help Me To Help Myself, Lennon refers to being hounded by "the angel of destruction" and chants, "oh help me, Lord."

He sings: "Well, I tried so hard to stay alive, but the angel of destruction keeps on hounding me, all around, but I know in my heart that we never really parted."

The song is one of three new tracks included on a re-issued version of Lennon's final album 'Double Fantasy,' released on Monday to mark what would have been his 60th birthday.

A spokesman for his record label Parlophone said it was "spooky" that his words could be interpreted as such a pointed reference to his impending death.

Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, said of the song: "They say that people start to think of God near death. It's possible that was the case here. Whatever he was thinking he was doing, it is a beautiful song."

Lennon's killer, Mark Chapman, was carrying a copy of Double Fantasy which he asked the musician to sign hours before shooting him outside the Dakota building, in New York, on December 8, 1980. Lennon assumed his killer was just a harmless autograph hunter.

Chapman's appeal for parole was turned down last week after an appeal by Ono, who said his release would be a betrayal of justice and he could himself be in danger.

Another new track on the album is Walking On Thin Ice, a track Lennon and Ono were working on the night he was gunned down.

Ono had a minor hit with the track when she released her own version in 1981, and Elvis Costello has also recorded a version.

Also being re-issued is Lennon's first post-Beatle album, John Lennon/Plastic Ono band.

The album re-issues was one of a number of events worldwide to remember the man whose hugely popular songwriting combined with personal soul-searching symbolised a generation.

On the anniversary of her husband's birthday Ono opened a museum dedicated to Lennon in Tokyo, Japan. On display are 130 items from his life including his original guitars and his trademark round glasses.

She spoke last week about the reason for building the museum in Tokyo.

"John and I fell in love and we had a child, which is East and West, and John has so much love for this country," Ono said. "Love is a very important element that will just take us all together to that global village, and so Japan is a very good place to start."